Rich+vs.+Poor+Nations+(Who's+Responsible)


 * Rich vs. Poor Nations**
 * (Who's Responsible)**

Climate change is a very important topic in the world today but do we know who is responsible? Most would say that the developed nations are responsible for climate change and that the developing nations shouldn't have to be reprimanded for what wasn't their fault. Although should the developing nations not have to follow the same emission reduction targets as developed nations.


 * Topics of Discussions**:
 * “Common but differentiated responsibilities” Principle
 * Population and Climate Change
 * Slow Progress by Rich Countries leads to Blaming Poorer Countries
 * Climate Justice and Equity
 * Why Don’t Poor Countries Have Emission Reduction Targets

Due to the way the the build up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere took many decades, the world said that it was today's developed nations that are responsible for the climate change of Earth. The world's developed nations of today feel that they are responsible for climate change and that they can not penalize the now developing nations for their actions. Although the world is not putting such strict reduction targets on these developing nations of today, they are strongly urging them to find an alternative way to develop, a way that would produce less greenhouse gases and use the world's available technology. Basically, the world's nations have come realize that they have a bigger obligation to reduce their emission of greenhouse gases, than the developing nations.
 * “Common but differentiated responsibilities” Principle**

With the populations of developing nations growing they will eventually begin to drain their resources leading nations to disaster. Today's developed nations consume roughly 80% of the worlds resources, that only leaves 20% for the developing nations. The countries with large populations now developing will lead to more purchasing power, the need for more goods and services will create a need for more resources. With the resources limited to this new population and style of development climate change will have an even greater effect.
 * Population and Climate Change**

The burden of climate change is being forced upon developing nations. The developed nations have had 20 years to try and address the problem with little progress. These developed nations, have been avoiding the issue of climate change and are now putting the blame on the developing nations. With their "over" population the countries emission of greenhouse gases will surpass the amount of emission from the developed nations.
 * Slow Progress by Rich Countries leads to Blaming Poorer Countries**

Today's developed nations have produced so many more greenhouses than the developing nations. As a result, these nations need to step forward and face the facts about climate change. Developed nations need to help and provide services to the developing nations to avoid an unnecessary amount of pollution from development. Many developed having not been doing this but have been blaming the developing nations and making the argument of "false balancing"**.** This argument is that because we (developed nations) have to make emission reductions so should the developing nations. Even though this is true and these developing nations should try to lower their emission rates, the developed nations need to step up and make these emission reductions. The more we continue without coming to mutual agreement these developing nations will have to sacrifice.
 * Climate Justice and Equity**

It has long been known that today's developed nations have been responsible for climate change. Greenhouse gases stay in the Earth's atmosphere for many years. The now developing nations can not be responsible for the cause of the greenhouse gases for the past 150 years. It is unfair for these developing nations to make the same emission reductions as the developed nations for the wrong doings of the now developed nations. Today's developed nations are responsible for climate change and it's unfair to ask and expect the developing nations to make the same emission reduction the same way.
 * Why Don’t Poor Countries Have Emission Reduction Targets**


 * Fun but Serious Facts**
 * Average global temperature will rise by 3-10 degrees Fahrenheit at the end of this century
 * Out of the past 12 years, 11 have been the warmest on record.


 * Want to learn more? Visit these cities:**
 * http://www.globalissues.org/article/231/climate-justice-and-equity**
 * http://www.globalissues.org/article/708/global-warming-and-population**
 * http://views.washingtonpost.com/climate-change/2009/12/responsibility_among_rich_vs_poor_nations/all.html**
 * http://www.globalissues.org/article/183/cop3-kyoto-protocol-climate-conference**
 * http://archive.wri.org/page.cfm?id=1284&z=?**